Man Down

The song features siren noises and violent lyrics about shooting a man, however Rihanna told Spin magazine they shouldn't be taken literally. "The song is about breaking a man's heart," she explained. "It's a very cleverly written song and what I love about it is that it's not a lyric you'd normally hear a female singing." (Man Down Songfacts).

[Intro] Sak pasé! [Verse 1] I didn't mean to end his life I know it wasn't right I can't even sleep at night Can't get it off my mind I need to get out of sight 'fore I end up behind bars What started out as a simple altercation Turned into a real sticky situation Me just thinking on the time that I'm facing makes me wanna cry [Pre-Chorus] 'Cause I didn't mean to hurt him Coulda been somebody's son And I took his heart when I pulled out that gun Rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum Man down Rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum Man down [Chorus] Oh, mama, mama, mama, I just shot a man down In central station In front of a big ol' crowd Oh, why? Oh, why? Oh, mama, mama, mama, I just shot a man down In central station [Verse 2] It's a twenty-two, I call her Peggy Sue When she fits right down in my shoes Whatchu expect me to do if you're playing me for a fool? I will lose my cool and reach for my firearm I didn't mean to lay him down But it's too late to turn back now Don't know what I was thinking Now he's no longer living So I'm 'bout to leave town, aye-uh [Pre-Chorus] 'Cause I didn't mean to hurt him Coulda been somebody's son And I took his heart when I pulled out that gun Rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum Man down Rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum Man down [Chorus] Oh, mama, mama, mama, I just shot a man down In central station In front of a big ol' crowd Oh, why? Oh, why? Oh, mama, mama, mama, I just shot a man down (Criminal) In central station [Bridge] Look, I'd never thought I'd do it Never thought I'd do it Never thought I'd do it Oh gosh, whatever happened to me, ever happened to me, ever happened to me? Why did I pull the trigger, pull the trigger, pull the trigger Boom! And end a nigga, end a nigga life so soon? When mi pull the trigger, pull the trigger, pull it pon' you Somebody tell me what I'm gonna, what I'm gonna do? Eh, rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum Mi say wah man down A weh mi say Rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum When mi went downtown 'Cause now I am criminal, criminal, criminal Oh Lord, oh mercy Now I am a criminal Man down Tell the judge please gimme minimal Run out a town, none a dem cah see mi now (See mi now) [Chorus] Oh, mama, mama, mama, I just shot a man down In central station In front of a big ol' crowd Oh, why? Oh, why? Oh, mama, mama, mama, I just shot a man down In central station